MIZZEN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does mizzen mean? 

• MIZZEN (noun)
  The noun MIZZEN has 2 senses:

1. third mast from the bow in a vessel having three or more masts; the after and shorter mast of a yawl, ketch, or dandy

2. fore-and-aft sail set on the mizzenmast

  Familiarity information: MIZZEN used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MIZZEN (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Third mast from the bow in a vessel having three or more masts; the after and shorter mast of a yawl, ketch, or dandy

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

mizen; mizenmast; mizzen; mizzenmast

Hypernyms ("mizzen" is a kind of...):

mast (a vertical spar for supporting sails)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Fore-and-aft sail set on the mizzenmast

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

mizen; mizzen

Hypernyms ("mizzen" is a kind of...):

fore-and-aft sail (any sail not set on a yard and whose normal position is in a fore-and-aft direction)

 Context examples 

That hill to the nor'ard they calls the Fore-mast Hill; there are three hills in a row running south'ard—fore, main, and mizzen, sir.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Another time he dropped a steel marlinspike from the mizzen crosstree.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Quick as thought, I sprang into the mizzen shrouds, rattled up hand over hand, and did not draw a breath till I was seated on the cross-trees.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)